Device and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

One embodiment provides a device including a processor, a detector and a controller. The processor acquires a first operation state of a network-connected device, a second operation state of a video recorder and content information regarding a content playable by the video recorder. The detector detects a movement of a user including a start of a movement of a user away from the video recorder toward the network-connected device. The controller performs a control of an operation of the video recorder by using the second operation state and the movement of the user after a change of the first operation state if the first operation state is changed after a detection of the start of the movement of the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2013-215867 filed on Oct. 16, 2013, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a device and itscontrol method.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices are expected to become a major trend in the future.Such wearable devices may be required to cooperate with a householdappliance such as a TV receiver each other. For example, it may berequired to enable automatic time-shift viewing in response tosuspension of content viewing, so that a user is allowed to view acontent in a simple manner using efficiently short segments of time,such as gaps of houseworks and waiting times available in housework.

In view of above, for example, there is proposed a technique in whichpositions of a network-compatible household appliance and a user aremeasured and recorded, and the state of the household appliance ischanged upon a user manipulation. However, in this technique, it isnecessary to measure a state of the household appliance and a userposition. Furthermore, the state of a household appliance is recognizedonly when it is manipulated, that is, no consideration is given tosuspension etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various features of thepresent invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrateembodiments and not to limit the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a walkanalyzing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a videorecorder used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of asystem according to the first embodiment or a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a wearable terminal according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a wearable terminal according to the secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment provides a device including: a processor configured toacquire a first operation state of a network-connected device, a secondoperation state of a video recorder and content information regarding acontent playable by the video recorder; a detector configured to detecta movement of a user including a start of a movement of a user away fromthe video recorder toward the network-connected device; and a controllerconfigured to perform a control of an operation of the video recorder byusing the second operation state and the movement of the user after achange of the first operation state if the first operation state ischanged after a detection of the start of the movement of the user.

Embodiments will be hereinafter described.

Embodiment 1

A first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 1 shows an example configuration of a walk analyzing device 1 as awearable device (wearable terminal) according to this embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 1, the walk analyzing device 1 includes a main body 10 anda attachment unit 30.

The main body 10 includes a controller 12, a storage 14, an input unit16, an output unit 18, a detector 20, and a communication unit 22.Incorporating a CPU 120, for example, the controller 12 controlscomponents of the main body 10. Incorporating a ROM (read-only memory;not shown), a RAM (random access memory; not shown), etc., the storage14 stores a program to be run by the controller 12 and data etc. to beused when the controller 12 runs the program. A detachable storage 140such as a memory card which can exchange programs and data with thestorage 14 may be detachably attached to the main body 10.

The input unit 16, which consists of input keys, switches, etc.,receives a user input to the main body 10. The output unit 18, whichincludes a display 180 such as a liquid crystal panel, a speaker 182 foroutputting a sound, a vibrator (not shown), etc., outputs a state, anoperation result, etc. of the main body 10 in the form of at least oneof a screen display, a sound, and vibration. The input unit 16 and thedisplay 180 may be integrated together using a touch panel or the like.

The detector 20 is, for example, a 3-axis acceleration sensor having asampling frequency 128 Hz, and has an acceleration measurement range of,for example, ±6 G or wider. When the walk analyzing device 1 ismanipulated by a subject person of a walk analysis, the detector 20detects acceleration values in three directions, that is, the verticaldirection, a movement direction of the subject person, and a horizontaldirection (left-right direction) that is approximately perpendicular tothe movement direction of the subject person.

The communication unit 22, which is a general-purpose interface forcommunicating with the outside, is configured so as to be able toperform any of a wired communication, a long-distance wirelesscommunication, and a near-field wireless communication.

For example, the attachment unit 30 is a belt to be wound around theuser's waist or the like. The user can ware the walk analyzing device 1on the waist via the attachment unit 30.

While worn by a subject person at his or her waist or its neighborhood,the walk analyzing device 1 detects acceleration values in the verticaldirection (Y direction), a movement direction (Z direction) of thesubject person, and a horizontal direction (X direction) that isapproximately perpendicular to the movement direction of the subjectperson. Since acceleration is integrated into speed which is integratedinto displacement, in principle it is possible to, for example, performcalculation to judge whether a subject person has returned to anoriginal position. For detailed functions of the walk analyzing device1, refer to JP-2013-094316-A which if filed by the present applicant,for example.

FIG. 2 shows an example video recorder 100 used in this embodiment. Thevideo recorder 100 includes a tuner 111, a demodulator 112, a signalprocessor 113, an audio processor 121, a video processor 131, a displayprocessor 133, a controller 150, a storage device 160, a manipulationreceiver 161, a light receiver 162, a LAN interface 171, and an HDMIterminal 173. The video recorder 100 is also equipped with speakers 122and a display 134.

The tuner 111 can receive, for example, a digital broadcast signal thatis received by an antenna 101. For example, the antenna 101 can receivea ground-wave digital broadcast signal, a BS (broadcasting satellite)digital broadcast signal, and/or a 110° CS (communication satellite)digital broadcast signal.

The tuner 111 is a tuner for digital broadcast signals. The tuner 111performs tuning on a received digital broadcast signal and supplies aresulting digital broadcast signal to the demodulator 112.

The demodulator 112 demodulates the received digital broadcast signaland thereby acquires content data such as a transport stream (TS) fromthe digital broadcast signal. The demodulator 112 inputs the acquiredcontent data to the signal processor 113. As such, the antenna 101, thetuner 111, and the demodulator 112 function as a content data receiver.

The signal processor 113 performs signal processing such as separationof the content data. That is, the signal processor 113 separates thecontent data into a digital video signal, a digital audio signal, and adata signal. The signal processor 113 supplies the separated videosignal to the audio processor 131, the video processor 131, and thecontroller 150, respectively.

Under the control of the controller 150, the signal processor 113 canconvert the content data into data (recording stream) that is in arecordable state. Under the control of the controller 150, the signalprocessor 113 can supply the recording stream to the storage device 160or another module that is connected to the HDMI terminal 173.

The signal processor 113 can convert the bit rate of the content datafrom an original rate to another rate (transcoding). That is, the signalprocessor 113 can transcode a stream having an original bit rate that isacquired from a broadcast signal or the like into a stream having alower bit rate by, for example, lowering the frame rate. Thus, thesignal processor 113 makes it possible to record a content in a statethat it has a smaller amount of data.

The audio processor 121 converts the digital audio signal received fromthe signal processor 113 into an audio signal having a format playableby the speakers 122. For example, the audio processor 121 converts thedigital audio signal into analog audio signals through digital-to-analogconversion and supplies the resulting analog audio signals to thespeakers 122. The speakers 122 generate a sound based on the receivedanalog audio signals.

The video processor 131 converts (i.e., decodes) the digital videosignal received from the signal processor 113 into a video signal havinga format playable by the display 134. The video processor 131 suppliesthe decoded video signal to the display processor 133.

Under the control of the controller 150, the display processor 133performs processing for adjusting the image quality such as the hue,brightness, sharpness, and contrast on the received video signal. Thedisplay processor 133 supplies the image-quality adjusted video signalto the display 134. The display 134 displays video based on the receivedvideo signal.

For example, the display 134 includes a liquid crystal display deviceincorporating a liquid crystal display panel having a number of pixelsarranged in matrix form and a backlight for illuminating the liquidcrystal panel, and other components.

The video recorder 100 may be configured so as to be equipped with asupply terminal through which to supply a video signal, instead of thedisplay 134. The video recorder 100 may be configured so as to beequipped with supply terminals through which to supply audio signals,instead of the speakers 122. And the video recorder 100 may beconfigured so as to be equipped with a supply terminal through which tosupply a digital video signal and a digital audio signal.

The controller 150 controls operations of components of the videorecorder 100. The controller 150 includes a CPU 151, a ROM 152, a RAM153, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory)154, etc. The controller 150 performs any of various kinds of processingin accordance with a manipulation signal that is supplied from themanipulation receiver 161.

The CPU 151 includes a computation element for performing various kindsof computation processing and other elements. The CPU 151 realizesvarious functions by running programs stored in the ROM 152, the EEPROM154 etc.

The ROM 152 stores programs for controlling the video recorder 100,programs for realizing various functions, and other information. The CPU151 activates a program stored in the ROM 152 in accordance with amanipulation signal that is supplied from the manipulation receiver 161.In this manner, the controller 150 controls operations of thecomponents.

The RAM 153 functions as a work memory of the CPU 151. That is, the RAM153 stores a computation result of the CPU 151, data read by the CPU151, and other information.

The EEPROM 154 is a nonvolatile memory for storing various kinds ofsetting information, programs, etc.

The storage device 160 has a storage medium for storing a content. Forexample, the storage device 160 is a hard disk drive (HDD), asolid-state drive (SSD), a semiconductor memory, or the like. Thestorage device 160 can store a recording stream that is supplied fromthe signal processor 113.

For example, the manipulation receiver 161 includes manipulation keys, atouch pad, or the like that generates a manipulation signal inaccordance with a manipulation input of a user. The manipulationreceiver 161 may be configured so as to receive a manipulation signalfrom a keyboard, a mouse, or another input device capable of generatinga manipulation signal. The manipulation receiver 161 supplies themanipulation signal to the controller 150.

The touch pad incorporates a capacitance sensor, a thermosensor, oranother type of device which generates position information. Where thevideo recorder 100 includes the display 134, the manipulation receiver161 may include, for example, a touch panel that is integrated with thedisplay 134.

For example, the light receiver 162 includes a sensor for receiving amanipulation signal from a remote controller 163. The light receiver 162supplies a resulting signal to the controller 150. The controller 150receives the signal from the light receiver 162 and amplifies andA/D-converts it to restore the original manipulation signal transmittedfrom the remote controller 163.

The remote controller 163 generates a manipulation signal based on auser manipulation input, and transmits the generated manipulation signalto the light receiver 162 by an infrared communication. The lightreceiver 162 and the remote controller 163 may be configured so as totransmit and receive a manipulation signal by another type of wirelesscommunication such as one using radio waves.

The LAN interface 171 is an interface for a communication with anotherdevice on a network such as the Internet, an intranet, or a home networkvia a LAN. For example, the video recorder 100 can receive, through theLAN interface 171, a content that is recorded in a device on a networkand play back it. Furthermore, the video recorder 100 can supply contentdata to a device that is connected to it through the LAN interface 171.

The LAN interface 171 may be an interface that communicates with anaccess point over a wireless LAN. For example, the LAN interface 171 hasa function of performing a communication according to IEEE 802.11b/g/n.

Where as described above the LAN interface 171 is connected to an accesspoint over a wireless LAN, the video recorder 100 can communicate withanother device that is connected to the access point. The LAN interface171 may be configured so as to communicate with another device over awireless LAN directly, that is, without using an access point.

The HDMI terminal 173 is an interface for performing a communicationaccording to such a standard as a high definition multimedia interface(HDMI (Trademark)). A device that is compatible with HDMI, such as aBlu-ray (Trademark), a DVD recorder, or a hard disk recorder, isconnected to the HDMI terminal 173. The HDMI terminal 173 can receivecontent data that is supplied from a device connected to it.

The controller 150 causes input, to the signal processor 113, of contentdata that is received through the HDMI terminal 173. The signalprocessor 113 separates a digital video signal, a digital audio signal,etc. from the received content data. The signal processor 113 suppliesthe separated digital video signal and digital audio signal to the videoprocessor 131 and the audio processor 121, respectively.

The video recorder 100 includes a power unit (not shown). The power unitreceives power from, for example, a commercial power line via an ACadapter, converts the received AC power into DC power, and supplies thelatter to the individual units of the video recorder 100.

Incidentally, the time-shift viewing has come into wide use as it hasbecome common for digital TV receivers to incorporate the HDD recordingfunction. And the time-shift viewing has made it possible to viewcontents efficiently, that is, without being restricted by theirbroadcast schedule. However, at present, to perform time-shift viewing,a user needs to cause recording and play-back manually by himself orherself. In daily life, manual time-shift viewing is not necessarilyperformed efficiently.

For example, when content viewing is done in a waiting time in the casewhere a device operates for a prescribed time in housework such aswashing and drying, in many cases content viewing cannot be finishedwith such timing as to be suitable for the housework. Either thehousework or the content viewing is half-finished. When content viewingis suspended halfway due to finishing of such housework as washing, itis necessary to manually perform manipulations for enabling time-shiftviewing such as a start of recording, chapter addition, a halt, etc.Similar manipulations are necessary when viewing is restarted.

In contrast, improvements could be made if an operation state of ahousehold appliance and a user action (movement) state can be acquired.As the TV manipulating function with cooperation between a TV receiverand an external device has become common, platforms have beenconstructed that allow a smartphone or a tablet terminal to perform morecomplicated TV controls than a remote controller. However, at present,this technique is merely used on a level of, say, a remote controllerworking on a smartphone.

A description will be made below as to how to perform time-shift viewingefficiently based on the following points by adding a householdappliance to cooperation between a TV receiver and an external devicewith advancement of adaptation to computerization of householdappliances as exemplified by, for example, the ECHONET Lite standard, arise of the expectation for the household appliances cooperationtechnology, and expansion of user action (movement)-based services usinga mobile terminal and controlling the TV receiver based on an operationstate of the household appliance and user actions (movements) by theexternal device (wearable device):

(1) To enable efficient time-shift viewing, household applianceoperation state information and user action (movement) information areused and a TV receiver is controlled by an external link device(wearable device).

(2) An expected operating time of a household appliance is acquired whenit is manipulated. When a user has stopped his or her actions(movements), viewing of a content that can be viewed fully by the end ofthe operation of the household appliance is recommended, and a TVreceiver is manipulated in accordance with a user selection.

FIGS. 3 and 4 exemplify a wearable terminal which determines andrecommend a content that can be viewed fully by the end of operation ofa household appliance from when a user is rendered in a standby state.FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a system including a wearableterminal 10 a and the video recorder 100. The wearable terminal 10 a maybe configured with the main body 10 and the attachment unit 30 of theabove-described walk analyzing device 1. As the attachment unit 30, anyof various forms such as a glove, a wrist band, and a headset may beadopted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wearable terminal 10 a includes various functionunits, that is, a household appliance command transmitter/receiver 101,a household appliance operation state retriever 102, a TV operationcontroller 103, a user action (movement) detector 104, a contentsinformation retriever 105, a TV command transmitter/receiver 106, arecommended content determinator 107, a recommended content indicator108, and a manipulation receiver 109. While these functional units areimplemented mainly by the controller 12, the household appliance commandtransmitter/receiver 101 and the TV command transmitter/receiver 106also correspond to the communication unit 22, the user action (movement)detector 104 corresponds to the detector 20, the recommended contentindicator 108 corresponds to the output unit 18, and the manipulationreceiver 109 corresponds to the input unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, a DTV (digital television set), which is an exampleof the video recorder 100, includes various function units, that is, aTV command transmitter/receiver 201, an operation state manager 202, acontents information manager 203, a contents storage 204, a play-backprocessor 205, and a recording processor 206. These function units areimplemented by programs that are run by the CPU 151. The TV commandtransmitter/receiver 201 performs a communication through the LANinterface 171, and the contents storage 204 uses the storage device 160.The play-back processor 205 and the recording processor 206 use theunits shown in the top part of FIG. 2.

This example is directed to a case that a washing machine 310 as ahousehold appliance A is manipulated. The washing machine 310 isconnected to a network, and has a function of communicating andproviding an operation state of its own to and with another deviceconnected to the network. More specifically, this function isimplemented by using the ECHONET Lite standard, for example. Likewise,the DTV has is connected to the network, and has a function ofcommunicating and providing an operation state of its own and a functionof allowing another terminal on the network to make an instruction tochange a TV operation such as recording/playing-back processing or asetting of the DTV and to thereby cause the change. These devices arealso connected to a home network. When the user sets a washing coursefor the washing machine 310 and starts washing, a household appliancecommand transmitter/receiver 312 receives a washing start noticecontaining a time to be taken by the washing from an operation statemanager 311, and communicates operation start information to thewearable terminal 10 a which is connected to the same network.

Referring to FIG. 4, at step S101, when receiving a notice through thehousehold appliance command transmitter/receiver 101, the wearableterminal 10 a acquires an operation start time and an operating time ofthe washing machine 310 by the household appliance operation stateretriever 102 and stores the household appliance operation start timeand operating time in the storage 14 by the recommended contentdeterminator 107. At steps S102 and S103, the wearable terminal 10 aattempts to detect a state that the user is not making any action(movement) by the user action (movement) detector 104. The term “actions(movements)” means body movements. If the body movement of the userfalls within prescribed ranges (in the vertical and horizontaldirections) for a prescribed time, it is judged that user is not moving,that is, the user is making any action (movement).

If it is detected that actions (movements) of the user have stopped, atstep S104 the recommended content determinator 107 calculates a lengthof a content whose viewing should be recommended based on a time whenuser actions (movements) stopped and the recorded household applianceoperation start time and operating time. More specifically, therecommended content determinator 107 calculates a length of arecommended content by subtracting a time that has elapsed from thehousehold appliance operation start time to the stop of actions(movements) of the user from the household appliance operating time.

At step S105, the contents information retriever 105 of the wearableterminal 10 a acquires a list of viewable contents from the DTV throughthe TV command transmitter/receiver 106 and the recommended contentdeterminator 107 determines a content(s) that conforms to the length ofa recommended content. For example, the recommended content determinator107 produces a list of contents whose lengths are shorter than thecalculated length and that are arranged in descending order of lengths.Alternatively, a control may be made so as to play back a most propercontent (e.g., a longest content among ones whose lengths are within thecalculated length or a content that is judged highest in the degree ofrecommendation based on user taste information) automatically instead ofletting the user select one.

At step S106, the recommended content indicator 108 presents thedetermined recommended content(s) to the user. The manipulation receiver109 receives information indicating whether the user wants to view thepresented content (or one of the presented contents). If the user doesnot want to view the presented content (S107: no), the process isfinished. If the user wants to view the presented content (S107: yes),the process moves to the next step S108.

At step S108 and S109, the wearable terminal 10 a attempts to detect astate that the user is not making any action (movement). A place wherethe user is not making any action (movement) after showing the intentionof viewing the presented content can be considered a position forviewing the DTV. Therefore, if the user action (movement) detector 104detects a state that the user is not making any action (movement), atstep S110 the TV operation controller 103 transmits, to the DTV, aninstruction to play back the content whose viewing was commanded by theuser. Upon receiving the play-back instruction, the DTV starts contentplay-back processing. It is proper to take into consideration a timethat is taken to finish execution of steps S108 and S109. A content thatcomes not to be fully viewable may be removed from the above-mentionedlist of recommended contents to be presented to the user, uponoccurrence of such a content.

The above-described process makes it possible to estimate a time slot inwhich a user waits for the end of an operation of a washing machinestarted by the user and allow the user to semi-automatically view acontent that is suitable for the waiting time.

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.Descriptions of items having the same ones in the first embodiment willbe omitted.

A description will be made below as to how to perform time-shift viewingefficiently based on the following points:

(1) When a household appliance operation state change notice isreceived, a recording/playing-back position is stored automatically if aTV receiver is performing a playing-back operation.

(2) After the household appliance operation state change notice wasreceived and the recording/playing-back position was storedautomatically, a play-back position is stored automatically when a userhas started an action (movement).

(3) After the household appliance operation state change notice wasreceived and the recording/playing-back position was storedautomatically, restart of play-back from one of the stored play-backpositions is recommended when the user has completed the action(movement) and returned to an original position.

(4) After the household appliance operation state change notice wasreceived and the recording/playing-back position was storedautomatically, the recorded content is registered as a viewing-suspendedcontent if a prescribed time has elapsed from the start of the action(movement) of the user. And viewing of the recorded content isrecommended when the user starts next TV viewing.

A description will be made of a wearable terminal which, when a changeoccurs in the operation of a household appliance during view of acontent and a user needs to take a proper measure, automaticallysuspends viewing of the content and restarts viewing of the contentafter taking a proper measure.

This example is directed to a case of notification of arrival of avisitor from an intercom 320 as a household appliance B. However, theconcept of this embodiment is also applicable to an event of anotherkind of household appliance such as notification of a completion of anoperation of a washing machine. The intercom 320 is connected to anetwork, and has a function of communicating and providing an operationstate of its own. More specifically, this function is implemented byusing the ECHONET Lite standard, for example. Likewise, the DTV has isconnected to the network, and has a function of communicating andproviding an operation state of its own and a function of allowinganother terminal on the network to make an instruction to change a TVoperation such as recording/playing-back processing or a setting of theDTV and to thereby cause the change.

These devices are also connected to a home network. Upon arrival of avisitor, an operation state manager 321 communicates an activationnotice (operation start information) of the intercom 320 to the wearableterminal 10 a which is connected to the same network, through ahousehold appliance command transmitter/receiver 322.

Referring to FIG. 5, at step S201, when receiving a notice through thehousehold appliance command transmitter/receiver 101, the wearableterminal 10 a informs the user of activation of the intercom 320 andstores a current time in the storage 14. And the household applianceoperation state retriever 102 acquires information indicating the startof an operation of the intercom 320. At steps S202 and S203, the TVoperation controller 103 acquires, from the DTV, information indicatinga current operation state of the DTV and judges whether or not the DTVis playing back video.

The process is finished if the DTV is not playing back video. If the DTVis playing back video, the process proceeds to next steps (steps S202and S203). If the DTV is playing back video, at step S204 the TVoperation controller 103 judges whether or not the DTV is playing back abroadcast program or a recorded content. If DTV is playing back abroadcast program, at step S205 the TV operation controller 103instructs the DTV to start recording of the program being played back.

If DTV is playing back a recorded content, at step S206 the wearableterminal 10 a records a current play-back position of the content (i.e.,a time from the head of the content). At step S207 and S208, thewearable terminal 10 a detects a start of an action (movement) of theuser by the user action (movement) detector 104. If a start of an action(movement) of the user, at step S209 the TV operation controller 103acquires and records a current time and a corresponding play-backposition of the content being played back by the DTV.

At step S210, the wearable terminal 10 a calculates a viewing suspensionposition to be used as a play-back start position when the user restartsviewing based on the recorded household appliance operation state changenotification time and a user action (movement) start time. For example,if the difference between the household appliance operation state changenotification time and the user action (movement) start time is smallerthan a prescribed threshold value, a play-back position at the householdappliance operation state change notification time may be employed as aviewing suspension position. If the difference is larger than theprescribed threshold value, a play-back position at the user action(movement) start time may be employed as a viewing suspension position.Alternatively, both play-back positions may be employed as suspensionposition candidates to cause the user to select one of them whenplay-back is restarted.

At step S211, the user action (movement) detector 104 records a relativemovement path from an action (movement) start position while the usermakes actions (movements). For example, a relative movement path can becalculated based on acceleration values in the respective directionsthat are detected by the acceleration sensor incorporated in thewearable terminal 10 a and associated time points. If it is detected atstep S212 that the user has stopped actions and the end point of therelative movement path is approximately the same as its start point, itcan be presumed that the user has finished responding to the visitorover the intercom and returned to the original position. Therefore, atstep S213, the wearable terminal 10 a causes play-back from the viewingsuspension position calculated at step S210.

At step S213, wearable terminal 10 a may present play-back startposition candidates.

If it is detected at step S212 that the user has not stopped actions orthe end point of the relative movement path is not approximately thesame as its start point, at step S214 the wearable terminal 10 a judgeswhether or not the elapsed time from the start of the user actions(movements) is longer than is equal to a prescribed threshold value whenthe actions (movements) are not in a stop state. The wearable terminal10 a continues the detection processing if the elapsed time has notreached the prescribed threshold value yet. If the prescribed thresholdtime has already been reached, the process moves to step S215. If theuser has not returned to the original position even after a lapse of theprescribed time or longer from the start of user actions (movements), itis supposed that it will take long time for the user to deal with thevisitor (and do related work). Therefore, at step S215, the TV operationcontroller 103 records viewing-suspended content information and stopsthe DTV play-back processing. The recorded viewing-suspended contentinformation will be used as information of one of recommended contentswhen the user wants to view a content on another occasion. This allowsthe user to avoid failing to view the rest of the content concerned.

With the above-described process, even when a user is forced to suspendviewing of a content due to occurrence of an intercom call during theviewing, it becomes possible to estimate user actions (movements) andcontrol a TV receiver so that viewing can be restarted automatically assoon as the user finishes responding to the visitor over the intercom(and doing related work).

As is understood from the above description, the household applianceoperation state retriever 102, the user action (movement) detector 104,and the TV operation controller 103 of the wearable (mobile) terminal 10a enables a more practical content play-back control because a householdappliance operation state and user actions (movements) can be taken intoconsideration. Since user actions (movements), rather than userpositions, can be used, no devices for position measurement arenecessary, as a result of which the invention can be implemented at alow cost.

The system including the DTV and the wearable terminal 10 a has beendescribed above. Another system is possible in which a DTV and awearable terminal are linked by a smartphone or a PC. This is to solveproblems relating to the battery capacity and the processing ability ofthe wearable terminal by restricting its roles to transmitting detectedinformation to a smartphone or the like and presenting, to a user, anotice received from the smartphone or the like.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and variousmodifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. And various inventive concepts may be conceived byproperly combining plural components of each embodiment. For example,several ones of the components of each embodiment may be omitted.Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be combined asappropriate.

1. A device comprising: a processor configured to acquire a firstoperation state of a network-connected device, a second operation stateof a video recorder and content information regarding a content playableby the video recorder; a detector configured to detect a movement of auser comprising a start of a movement of a user away from the videorecorder toward the network-connected device; and a controllerconfigured to perform a control of an operation of the video recorder byusing the second operation state and the movement of the user after achange of the first operation state if the first operation state ischanged after a detection of the start of the movement of the user. 2.The device of claim 1, further comprising: a content informationindicator configured to present the content information; and amanipulation receiver configured to receive a selection of content onthe presented content information by the user, wherein the contentinformation retriever presents a recommended content list upon change ofthe first operation state, and the controller controls the videorecorder to play back the content selected through the manipulationreceiver.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein, upon change of the firstoperation state, the processor acquires an expected operating time ofthe network-connected device, acquires the content information, anddetermines a recommended content by comparing the expected operatingtime of the network-connected device with a content length correspondingto the acquired content information, and wherein the controller controlsthe video recorder to play back the recommended content upon the stop ofthe movement of the user.
 4. A device comprising: a processor configuredto acquire a first operation state of a network-connected device, asecond operation state of a video recorder and content informationregarding a content playable by the video recorder; a detectorconfigured to detect a movement of a user comprising a stop of amovement of a user away from the network-connected device toward thevideo recorder; and a controller configured to perform a control of anoperation of the video recorder by using the second operation state andthe movement of the user after a change of the first operation state ifthe first operation state is changed after a detection of the stop ofthe movement of the user.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein, upon changeof the first operation state, the processor acquires a play-back state,and the controller controls the video recorder, when it is playing backa broadcast program, to record the broadcast program, and wherein, uponthe stop of the movement of the user, the controller controls the videorecorder to play back the recorded broadcast program from a recordingstart position.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein, upon change of thefirst operation state, the processor acquires a play-back state, and thecontroller controls the video recorder, when it is playing back arecorded program, to record a current play-back position, and wherein,upon the stop of the movement of the user, the controller controls thevideo recorder to play back the recorded program from the recordedplay-back position.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein, upon elapse of aprescribed time without detection of the stop of the movement of theuser, the controller controls the video recorder to save the recordingstart position.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein, upon elapse of aprescribed time without detection of the stop of the movement of theuser, the controller controls the video recorder to save the recordedplay-back position.
 9. A method comprising: preparing a devicecomprising: a processor configured to acquire a first operation state ofa network-connected device, a second operation state of a video recorderand content information regarding a content playable by the videorecorder; and a detector configured to detect a movement of a usercomprising a start of a movement of a user away from the video recordertoward the network-connected device; and performing, using the device, acontrol of an operation of the video recorder by using the secondoperation state and the movement of the user after a change of the firstoperation state if the first operation state is changed after adetection of the movement of the user.
 10. A method comprising:preparing a device comprising: a processor configured to acquire a firstoperation state of a network-connected device, a second operation stateof a video recorder and content information regarding a content playableby the video recorder; and a detector configured to detect a movement ofa user comprising a stop of a movement of a user away from thenetwork-connected device toward the video recorder; and performing,using the device, a control of an operation of the video recorder byusing the second operation state and the movement of the user after achange of the first operation state if the first operation state ischanged after a detection of the movement of the user.